Tulips of Friendship

jim marshal
Author: jim marshal
Word Count: 141
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Tulips of Friendship

A moment where all was enough.

Tulips of Friendship belongs to the following groups:

Bits and Pieces , Everyday Life, Freedom In Words & Art, Live, Love, Dream: , The Healing Journey, Up & Coming Writers and WMG

Its very nice when we’re all together,
when a future can be seen
on the earthy wall
by the flame
of affections

but friendship
like all things
starts with oneself

As I stood alone
in the garden with a spade
I discovered
what it means
to befriend oneself
and for a moment
there was no more fighting
no need to get away
no flight
no escape
no better offer
but a willingness
to be with myself
and stay.

I saw tulips on my table
the red ones fully open
the pink ones halfway
the yellow just uncurling
buds just days ago
when a friend came by and gave
but their beauty is not a ship
to sail through market streets.

They were not to make a claim.

They were given in the middle
and in the middle shall remain.

Copyright. 2009.

  • sandraellen

    sandraellen

    wonderful Jim…....you seem to have lots to write of:)) ..............sandra

  • jim marshal replied

    Thanks sandra, yes, this is true!

  • kimangeline

    kimangeline

    “no better offer
    but a willingness
    to be with myself
    and stay.”
    so often I have wanted to run from myself…but I’m learning that running is not the answer…and that relationships will continue to have issues until i can stay.
    well said Jim

  • jim marshal replied

    Can be easier said than done, but as I have found, we get glimpses every now and again which become more and more familiar states. Guess it takes time, like all things. Thanks again Kim!

  • MyheART

    MyheART

    This is the start of a beautiful friendship:)

  • jim marshal replied

    Yes, begins right where you are :)

  • Shoaib .

    Shoaib .

    damn, I m very impressed with this man, “but friendship
    like all things
    starts with oneself” but the way you brought this together in the end was just awesome “They were given in the middle
    and in the middle shall remain.”

    Friendship and love I believe are all about coming in the middle and meeting the other person halfway …

  • jim marshal replied

    Hi Shoaib, thanks you, yes that was the idea with the ending, to say how there is a spirit of relationship that isn’t belonging to either person though it blesses them both.

  • Astoreth

    Astoreth

    this is beautiful my angel….and I have found that too …... because having been a ‘a runner’ I have found that running is never the answer and being your own best friend really heals a multitude of…I never want to say ‘sins’ because life is all experience and who can judge another? beautiful to the extreme. xxxx

  • jim marshal replied

    Well I don’t say I always feel my best friend, but in some moments like this one, there is a sense of completeness. I think the more glimpses we get, slowly we drive out the voices that tell us we need this and that.

  • Astoreth

    Astoreth

    oh yeah…..and we all have to meet eachother half way…..especially lovers. xxxx

  • Rhenastarr

    Rhenastarr

    Beautifully written, endearing and charming.

  • jim marshal replied

    Thanks, means a lot.

  • mimi yoon

    mimi yoon

    so beautiful, jim… and friendship does start with oneself…
    your writings are so simply weaved… nothing fancy… nothing ornate… but simply beautiful and just simply honest you… arrow straight to one’s heart…

  • jim marshal replied

    ha yes, just me. Some have hardly any flowery words, like this one. Thank you once again. hugs xx

  • Spraven

    Spraven

    Excellent piece friend, very natural and calming, this is a fav mate!!

  • jim marshal replied

    Thank you sir, appreciate it.

  • ArcadiaTempest

    ArcadiaTempest

    I loved this….your imagery was just sublime. The verse reads so easily and has a friendliness to it :)) It has this welcome undercurrent….inviting you to feel the words. Fav for me as well X

  • jim marshal replied

    A welcome undercurrent…. I like the thought of that a lot! Thanks so much.

  • Erika .

    Erika .

    Beatiful and true....I am still learning to completely befriend myself…..

  • jim marshal replied

    Yes, seems to take a while. Love to you.

  • Barbara Cliff

    Barbara Cliff

    yes, I too liked to think about ‘friendship starts with oneself’—it seems obvious, but I never thought about it—thanks

  • Ann L. Healey

    Ann L. Healey

    Beautifully written. :-) Your poem came up from a search term “self respect”. Pretty good eh?

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